The ACO is turning 50, and many of our musicians are celebrating momentous milestones with the Orchestra themselves.
In 2025, Artistic Director Richard Tognetti celebrates 35 years at the helm of the ACO, and ACO Principal Violin Helena Rathbone, who has performed with Richard for three decades, marks 30 years with the Orchestra.
The two have been through 30 years of rehearsing, travelling, performing and balancing busy lives in the same Orchestra, going through major life milestones alongside their positions in the band.
“Who’s most likely to make the other a coffee,” Helena Rathbone asks Richard Tognetti smiling. “Me!” they both say at the same time. “Bull***!” Richard laughs, and they both concede that perhaps he does take the brewing mantle more often.
The Artistic Director and ACO Principal Violin laugh through questions about who is mostly likely to do something either helpful, or slightly off-colour – from making the coffee to telling questionable jokes.
“This is social media nonsense!,” Richard laughs. He and Helena laugh about her origins as a “Pom” and Richard’s leaning towards long beach days and daring activities.
Watch in full below, and see if you can guess who’s most likely to do certain things...
